ARS | Publication request: Development of a transgenic sexing system based on female-specific embryonic lethality in Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Submitted to: Fruit Flies of Economic Importance International Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 7, 2010
Publication Date: October 1, 2011
Citation: Schetelig, M.A., Ogaugwu, C.E., Wimmer, E.A. 2011. Development of a transgenic sexing system based on female-specific embryonic lethality in Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Eighth International Symposoium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance.p. 106-118.

Technical Abstract: The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is more efficient and cost-effective when only sterile males are released. A female-specific lethality system based on a female-specifically spliced intron was developed for transgenic sexing in Ceratitis capitata (Fu et al., 2007) possibly to overcome the fitness problems of classical genetic sexing strains (GSS). However, this transgenic sexing system showed lethality predominantly during the pupal stage. To create an early-acting lethality system, we combined the principle of this female-specific lethality system with an embryonic lethality system (Schetelig et al., 2009a) to yield a female-specific embryonic lethality system.